The New York State legislature has now made it legal for pet owners to be buried alongside their deceased animals in the state's pet cemeteries. The NY Daily News reported that the regulation was the culmination of a three year-long legal battle (previously on Neatorama) by the family of former NYPD officer Thomas Ryan, who wanted to be buried alongside his three Maltese dogs in the Hartsdale Pet Cemetery, 20 miles north of Manhattan.

The regulation may be new, but it just made official a long-standing tradition of the iconic 116-year-old pet cemetery. According to USA Today, there are about 75,000 animals and ashes of 700 pet owners buried at the Hartsdale cemetery.

As part of the regulation, while pet cemeteries can now accept burial of human ashes, they may not advertise human burial services.